Automatic floor structure



' July 28, 1925. 1,547,556

'r. M. BRINTNALL AUTOMATIC FLOOR STRUCTURE Filed Nov. 22, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 a WWW M ATTOE/VEKS July 28, 1925. 1,547,556

T. M. BRINTNALL AUTOMATIQ FLOOR STRUCTURE F1155 Nov. 22, 1921 s SheetsSheet 2 INVENTOR Maddy/ mi 7 .BY

w ATTORNEYS WITNESS flf W T. M. BRINTNALL AUTOMATIC FLOOR STRUCTURE Filed Nov. 22, 1921 WITNESS 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 JQATTORNEYS TEN price.

THOM'AS M. BRINTNALL, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO M. G. WEST COM- PANY, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA.

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Application filed November 22, 1921.

To all whomit may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS M. BRINT- NALL, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Oakland, county of Alameda, State of California, have invented a new and useful Automatic Floor Structure, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to floor structures and more particularly to that type of floor construction designed to be emplaced in jux taposition to a doorway and door, the lower portions of which are below the normal floor leading to and from the doorway.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a floor section designed to auto matically move from one position to 'an. other, as for instance, to move from a level position eoplanar with the floor of a room into a substantially upright position, there by enabling the swinging open of a door, such as a vault or safe door, whose lower end sweeps below the plane of the general floor. In this connection it is also an object to provide a moving floor section that" can be readily restored to the level position after the vault or safe door has been opened so that the floor section will cover the recess in the floor and provide a level walk from the main floor through the doorway and threshold onto the floor of the vault or safe.

A further object of the invention is to provide an adjustable fioor section of the utmost simplicity and durability and which is free from small and delicate moving or other elements and which consists of sub stantially one'unitary organized floor section. Further, an object is to provide a substantially or nearly balanced floor section enabling its practically automatic initial movement and gradual deceleration of movement from its closed to its open position and enabling the restoration of the floor section from the open to the closed position with but slight exertion on the part of the operator.

Another object is to provide novel, practical, substantial and highly simple means providing for the movement of the floor section. More particularly, an object isto provide means enabling a simple, true rolling movement of the floor section from one position to another and for providing for a definite invariable path of movement.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with Serial No. 517,067.

the foregoing, will be made manifest in the following description of the preferred form of the invention, which is illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiment shown by the said drawings and description, as variations may be adopted within. the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

Fig; 1 is a perspective of a portion of a wall in which a vault doorway and door are provided and showing the improved automatic floor section in horizontal, recess closing position.

Fig. 2 is a perspective of the complete organized floor and its frame structure in condition to be emplaced in the floor recess adjacentthe doorway; the floor section being in its lowered position.

Fig. 3 is a perspective of the frame structure and showing thefioor section in its upright position.

Fig. 4 is a perspective generally similar to Fig. 3, but showing the frame structure eX- posed when the sub-floor is removed.

Fig.5 is a detailsectional view showing the trip mechanism for unlocking the floor to permit it to rise from its horizontal position.

In one embodiment of the present inven tion the structure includes a rigid floor section having, for instance, a substantial, metal plate 2, which is appropriately braced, as by attachment to a fabricated frame structure 2; the outline of the plate and frame in plan being obviously determined according to the nature of the recess B, Fig. 1, provided in front of a doorway W, closeable by the vault door D, swinging in the recess R. The floor section 2 is designed to be moved into a horizontal position and sub stantially cover the recess R, and in such position become co-planar with the floor F, in which the recess is formed and therefore providing a level walk from the room into the vault through the doorway WV. The outer edge of the floor 2 may be substantially straight, as shown, while the inner edge has a projecting apron portion 2, Fig. 2, and a re-entrant opening 2 to clear the door D, when the latter is open. The edge of the apron 2 may be notched, as at 2, to clear the lower hinge of the door.

Several floor sections of this type have been constructed and successfully installed and utilized, and a preferred form of mounting therefore consists of means which provide for a true rolling motion of the floor section 2 from a horizontal to an upright posit-ion and conversely. This eliminates rocker shafts, trunnions, link notches and all forms of operating mechanism. To secure the rolling action and at the same time to positively determine the path of movement, there is secured adjacent each outer corner of the floor section 2 and underneath the same, substantial, toothed quadrants 3, the centers of which are placed a suitable distance from the outer edge of the floor section to enable the latter to move in a path commencing at the floor level at the front of the recess R and swinging downwardly into the recess at the front end to a position clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The toothed quadrants 3 extend down and are parallel and on a common axis and bear upon substantial, fixed racks 4: having a length substantially equal to the peripheries of the toothed quadrants and therefore, when the floor section 2 is in its upright position, the quadrants stand on the outer ends of their racks l and during downward movement of the floor section, the quadrants roll on the horizontal racks to the position shown in Fig. 2-and bear on the rear ends of the racks. This rolling of the quadrants 3 brings the floor section 2 to the horizontal closing position, Figs. 1 and 2.

Preferably, the floor section is combined with an appropriately designed foundation frame 5 of any suitable fabrication or construction, the floor and its frame forming a complete unit adapted to be bodily shipped in assembled position for installation readily in the prepared pit or recess R in the floor F. This provides accuracy of fit of the unit and for easy operation of the floor section. The horizontal racks 4 are substantially secured upon appropriate mountings at on the frame structure.

The axis of the rolling quadrants 8 is so located with respect to the floor structure 2, that the latter preferably tends to automatically lift at its inner end adjacent the door and swing upwardly to the upright position and this automatic action is pre vented, while the floor is in the lowered position, by any suitable means, and which means may also be utilized if necessary, as a counter-weight to correct or provide for the desired substantial counter-balance of the floor section 2 on its supports l. A looking means is therefore shown in one form which comprises a swinging latch member formed of pendant arms 6, pivoted at 7 to end corner frame portions of the frame 2 ofthe floor section; these end arms 6 being shown as connected by a piece of angle-iron or other suitable material 8, Fig. 5, which,

while forming a part of the latching means, also serves as an agent or medium for the correction and determination of the balancing of the rolling floor section. When the floor section 2 is in its horizontal position, the swinging latch structure lifts substantially vertically to a position shown in Fig. 3, at which time the angle-iron strip 8 is thrust over a lug or fixed bearing part 9 of the sub-frame construction, this action being secured automatically, as by means of a leaf spring 10, or other device, as desired. When it is desired to release the floor section so that it may move upwardly, it is only necessary for the authorized person to apply a foot to the pedal 11 which projects slightly above the floor F at one side of the recess R. Pressure on the pedal 11 pushes a rod 12 against the swinging latch struct-ure, as in Fig. 5, and thrusts it clear of the stop 9 against the action of the spring 10. As soon as it is released from the controlling latch member 6, the inner end of the floor section 2 slowly rises and as it ap proaches the vertical position, its momentum may, if desired, be retarded by grasping the lever arm or handle 13. Suitable bumpers, one of which is indicated at 14, in ig. 3, may be utilized to engage the contiguous portion of the floor section 2, as it rolls into upright position.

When the floor is upright, it uncovers the frame construction and for safety and convenience, there is provided on the frame 5 a sub-floor of sheet plates or other. material 20, which is in a plane just below the lower swinging edge of the door D, so that this can move to and from its respective position over the sub-floor 20, freely. This subfloor has a notch 2O at its inner edge to clear the door hinge.

If it. is desired to have access to the pit or recess below the sub-floor 20, it is only necessary to lift a small shutter 21 which may comprise a plate hinged at 22 to the frame 2 of the floor section 2. This shutter serves to close an opening formed at the forward end of the sub-floor 20 and through which access is had to the recess below. At the ends of the shutter 21 may be provided lateral, rearwardly extending leaves 23 which extend along the sides of the sub-floor 20 and cover recesses therein which are formed adjacent the quadrants 3. This provides for access to the fixed racks 4: as may be desired.

What is claimed is:

1. A floor section and a supporting frame organized as a complete unit for bodily installation in a floor pit, the floor section being rollably movable on its frame from' a horizontal position to an upright position and vice versa.

2. A. floor section and a supporting frame organized as a complete unit for bodily installation in a floor pit, the floor section being movable on its frame fro-m a horizontal position to an upright position and vice versa, and a sub-floor on the frame.

A floor section and a supporting frame organized as a complete unit for bodily installation in a floor pit, the floor section being movable on its frame from a horizontal position to an upright position and vice versa, and means on the frame forming a sub-floor over the pit.

4:. A floor section and a supporting frame organized as a complete unit for bodily installation in a floor pit, the floor section being movable on its frame from a horizontal position to an upright position and vice versa, means on the frame forming a subfloor over the pit, and a shutter arranged to be moved toprovide access to the pit.

5. In a. device of the character described a floor section, a pair of racks, toothed quadrants fixed to the floor section and engaged in said racks to support the floor section thereon and adapt the floor section to be rolled in a fixed path from a horizontal to a vertical position and vice versa, the center of gravity of said floor sec-tion being so placed that it tends to move from the horizontal to the vertical position, a latch for preventing such movement, and means for operating the latch. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

THOMAS M. BRINTNALL. 

